Sammallahdenmäki

The Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki consists of 33 stone cairns, dating mainly from the Bronze Age (1500-500 B.C.). It is an extraordinary example of Finland's Bronze Age culture because it presents the ancient monuments in a well preserved natural environment.

Two of the most spectacular cairns are the quadrangular "Chuch Floor" and the dike-like "Long Ruin of Huilu".

Visit August 2005

The ICOMOS report on this site describes it as "spectacular in setting" and "remote". Sammallahdenmäki is well signposted from the major road between Tampere and Rauma. The number of visitors clearly has risen over the years, as there were "100 local schoolchildren" in 1999, and the guestbook now testifies some 10-20 visitors a day in summer. They come from all over the world, from the USA to China, to see this lonely place in Finland.

It still is a quiet and atmospheric place though. Brochures in different languages are available from a self service box and free for use. There is no entrance fee. The cairns are spread out over a rather large area, a track through the woods guides you along.

One can easily walk here for 1.5 hours. The stone cairns aren't the most impressive aspect of this WHS, it's the pristine nature that grabs you. The pure smell, the quietness, the wild mushrooms and foremost the moss that covers large parts of this area. Also I found its high degree of authenticity (sometimes lacking in other WHS) very refreshing.

Reviews

John Booth (New Zealand):It was a 4km walk from the bus stop in Lappi village along the road to Eurajoki to the site of Samallahdenmaki. But it was a fine day and there was little traffic so it was quite pleasant. It was very peaceful there as I had the site to myself, but others arrived as I was leaving to catch the bus back to Rauma.
There are several groups of stone cairns, and I visited the 'Church Floor', a large mound of stones tightly compacted together.

Date posted: May 2010

Have you been to Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki? Share your experiences!